These pages were initially created to transfer photos from traditional scrapbooks to the internet in order to both preserve and make the pictures and history available to family and friends. It has become more extensive than I intended. However, I see it as a way to save the details before they slip away.

Words on back "Three young men employed, Chris standing by donkey, Ina on its back, me Margaret, in the cart"

Martin's Grandmother's (Margaret Singer Crerar at 16) in small white collar 6th from left back row. Her mother (2nd from left with son Archie's hand on her shoulder). Sister Ina holding doll. Montreal, Canada October 1907.

Margaret Crerar drawing to identify the folks in the photo to left

Hi Martin.
Here is some info that may be of interest re your grandmother and her mother.

Margaret R Singer (1860) your GGM when she came out in 1907 to Montreal ,her son Archibald (1879) was already in Canada, he came out in 1906 after his first wife died in 1906. His son Archibald John stayed behind with Margaret (1860)
He may have lived in Montreal ,later moved to Smith Falls in Ontario (where he is buried ) also lived in Hamilton Ontario for several years .

Also in Montreal was Margaret's (1860) brother in law George Singer and his wife Clementina. I wonder if that is the gentleman with the beard holding Ina ? He would have been about 57/58. Hard work being a blacksmith.
Archibald (1879) second marriage was to their daughter Clementine Singer ,1st cousins seemed fairly common at that time.

When your GM came in 1907 with Ina and Archibald John they may have stayed with the family for some time. Already in Ohio was Elsie Reid Singer married to Robert T Stephens they came in 1906 according to 1910 US census.
So somewhere between 1908-1910 your grandmother and some of her sisters came to Cleveland . Margaret and Christine are in the 1910 Census working for a private family in Cleveland Helen (Nellie) is also working for a different family.
1910 Census shows Margaret (1860) with Ina now 10 in Cleveland.
August 1910 Archibald and his son Archibald John came to visit his mother coming through Buffalo according to cross border info !

Cayahoga must have been full of Scottish folks , that name keeps coming up with other family members on my mother's side. Must have been interesting with the Aberdeen accent mingling with folks from Glasgow. As a child we often went north of Aberdeen to the Cullen area sometimes we didn't know what they were saying.

Evelyn Bennett (01/19/16)

Young Margaret Singer

Martin's Great grandmother (Margaret Crerar's Mom) Margaret Singer

Shirley Ann Crerar (Martin's Grandfather's Sister)

George Crerar 1896 - 15 years old

George Crerar (Martin's Grandfather on his mother's side) sailed from Glasgow, Scotland Date of Arrival April 02, 1907 (happens to be my Dad's birth date in 1917).

During World War I, the United States Navy asked that private citizens donate their binoculars for use by the U.S. Navy. Martin's Grandparents donated their binoculars and received the letter above from then Secretary of the Navy Franklin D. Roosevelt.

In the mid '90's Chris & I (Martin) were preparing to go see Chris' family in England. I had received an email from an Andrew Theophilus in Stevenage, England. It turned out his family came from Swansea, Wales which is where my Dad's family was from. At the same time my Aunt Sally came across a family cousin in Pennsylvania who mentioned that an Uncle in Florida had my Great Grandparents wedding certificate. The Uncle FedExed the certificate and it arrived in Austin just as we were leaving for the Austin airport to fly to the UK.

We visited Andrew Theophilus family in Stevenage and then drove to Wales to see what could be found.

The Wales village where my Great Grandparents were married was Rhandirmwyn. It is in a beautiful setting. We were surprised to find one third of the grave yards are filled with Theophilus. Chris & I found a pub store and they suggested we try talking to folks at the school. At the school, a man said we needed to meet Dorie Theophilus. He led us to her home. She pulled out Theophilus documents and brought us some tea. She then informed us that she needed to go shopping and left us in her home to look at the information. Dorie led us to William Theophilus and his family. We found similar links in our families, however no exact matches. We have continued to communicate with William and exchanged Christmas cards with Dorie. We were very saddened to learn that she passed away in 2007.

William Theophilus on his farm in Rhandirmwyn.

Pannig Street was where Martin's Great grandmother lived in Rhandirmwyn when she was married.

When Martin's Dad was 14, his father Albert Theophilus was killed in auto accident when attempting to crank start his car. At the time Albert was selling Delco batteries. The family moved to the Bates Farm after his death.

We have taken my Dad's letters and attempted to find period photos that reflect what the actors were doing at the time the letters were written and subsequently in their car. This letter is from Spencer Tracy.

In Oliver's college days, he was involved in throwing events such as HellzA Poppin. This photo shows him (middle front) staging a publicity stunt.

Martin's Dad put on this "Hell Z A Poppin" comedy play at the Calvary Presbyterian Church in Cleveland, Ohio in 1941 and later in the 1950's staged the same at the First Presbyterian Church in Alpine, Texas

March 1943 Theophilus' First home in Alpine was just behind their future residence at 702 North 5th Street and beside the future home of Peg's parents home (Martin's Grandparents). This view is of Mrs. Steffenson's house and windmill (later home of the Scudders).

View to the East from Theophilus' First home in Alpine. Note the US Army plane from Marfa Army Air Field (left top), March 1943

Inside Theophilus' First home in Alpine. Ollie entered the Army Air Force in July 1942, completed basic training in Denver and in March 1943 was assigned as a Link Trainer Instructor at the Marfa Army Air Field in early 1943.

Martin's Grandparents in Cleveland in 1943

Peg, Ollie & Peggy Anne 1943

Family friends McCulleys

Martin's Mom in Alpine garden 1943

Peg & Peggy Anne 1943

Peg & Peggy 1944

Martin's Grandparents visited Alpine during 1944/45 before moving there from Cleveland in 1947

1944 Twin Sisters

Peggy Anne with the Grandparents

1928 - pre Theophilus home - Walsh home is visable across from Central school

Theophilus/Crerar picnic with the Stephensons

picnic with the Stephensons Peg, Peggy Anne, Ollie, Margaret and George